Joe Burrow believes the Bengals have assembled a championship-caliber
roster, and now he's making sure everyone in the locker room feels the
That was one of the biggest takeaways from
Burrow's final media session before the Bengals broke for the summer
following mandatory minicamp.
Local 12 digital sports columnist
and editor Richard Skinner and Mike Petraglia from CLNS Media discussed
on their recent podcast how Burrow appeared more confident, relaxed and
focused than he has in recent offseasons, a reflection of both the
roster Cincinnati has built and the expectations that come with it.
told reporters Wednesday that he's tried to become a tougher leader
this offseason, how it's out of his comfort zone but somewhere that he's
improving. Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher later offered a
different description, calling Burrow "blunt" when giving feedback to
Burrow's comments came as the Bengals wrapped up an
offseason program that coach Zac Taylor considered productive enough to
cancel the final two scheduled practice days of minicamp.
decision effectively gave players an early start to their summer break,
something Skinner viewed as a reward for a roster that showed up,
stayed healthy and embraced the offseason program.
kind of a little pat on the back to say, 'Yeah, you guys put in a lot
of good work,'" Skinner said on the podcast.
avoided the contract disputes and distractions that dominated previous
offseasons. Unlike last year, when first-round pick Shemar Stewart had
not yet signed, the team's focus remained almost entirely on football.
That focus appears to start with Burrow.
Skinner and Petraglia noted Burrow repeatedly stayed after practice
throughout the offseason to throw extra passes and work on mechanics.
Even after minicamp concluded, Burrow spent additional time throwing and
"I just think that he realizes that this is the
time to win now," Skinner said. "This is the best roster they've had
since the 2021 and 2022 teams, and you don't want to waste it."
echoed that belief Wednesday when he compared his feelings about the
2026 Bengals to the confidence he felt before LSU's national
championship season in 2019.
"Given how the Bengals have
restructured the roster, I don't see how going into the season, going
into training camp in late July and August, how it could be set up any
Perhaps the most revealing moment came
when Burrow discussed pressure. The Bengals enter the season with
expectations as high as they've been since their Super Bowl run in 2021,
and Burrow made it clear he's embracing them.
Burrow's demeanor during a 25-minute media session reflected a player
who believes the Bengals are positioned to contend immediately.
"He looked about as relaxed and confident as I've seen him in a couple of years," Petraglia said. "I
just got this quiet sense of confidence from Burrow that he's finally
going into a summer break of four or five weeks before they reconvene in
late July, that he has a better idea of what this team could really do
The Bengals report to training camp in late July,
carrying the weight of heightened expectations and a quarterback who
appears eager to embrace them.